Charles Ellicott Commentary Proverbs 5
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Proverbs 5
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Proverbs 5
"For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:" — Proverbs 5:3 (ASV)
Her mouth is smoother than oil— The experience of David also with Ahitophel (Psalms 55:21).
"But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword." — Proverbs 5:4 (ASV)
Bitter as wormwood.— The absinthium of Revelation 8:11, where, apparently, it is considered as a poison. So God’s message to St. John (Revelation 10:10) was in his mouth sweet as honey , but made his belly bitter: that is, he met with much sorrow and trouble in making it known to men, but through this much tribulation (Acts 14:22) he entered into the kingdom of heaven.
"Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol;" — Proverbs 5:5 (ASV)
Take hold of hell.— They lead straight to it.
"So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, [and] she knoweth [it] not." — Proverbs 5:6 (ASV)
Lest thou shouldest ponder ...—The meaning of the English version appears to be, “To prevent thy choosing the path of life, she leads thee by devious paths that thou knowest not where thou art.” It may also be rendered, “Far from smoothing for herself the path of life, her steps wander without her observing it.” By these words is described the reckless career of a vicious woman, who at last dares not think where her steps are leading her, but, as it were, with eyes shut, totters on until she falls to rise no more.
"Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the words of my mouth." — Proverbs 5:7 (ASV)
(h) Eighth Discourse: — Against Adultery, and in Praise of Marriage (Proverbs 5:7–23).
Hear me now therefore, O ye children.—In this verse Solomon apparently ceases to report the words of his father, and resumes his speech in his own person.
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